The Omega 3 Oils - Essential Nutritional Supplements
05 Jan 2011 09:25:23 AM
Who would benefit from an Omega 3 supplement?
Everyone benefits from taking additional, high quality Omega 3 oil supplements, to reduce the excessive Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio resulting from recent evolution and modern diets. Examples of primary groups of people and the improvement of specific conditions for which it is absolutely essential are given below.
✔ Pregnant women, as the foetus and infants need it for brain, and eye development (this is usually taken as pure quality fish oils given to the mother to ensure DHA)
✔ As a preventive measure during breastfeeding and the first two years of life to reduce atopic (allergy) conditions in childhood (flax and fish oil)
✔ For normal healthy brain function, especially important for people with attention and/or learning disability (pure, quality fish oils are recommended for this due to the DHA content, not found in flax)
✔ Clients seeking better skin and complexion and relief from dry skin (one tablespoon or more of Omega 3 flax oil, or capsules of flax and high GLA Borage oils do this best)
✔ Those people who would like to improve their mood and emotional well-being. Note both depression and aggressiveness decline particularly when taking EPA
✔ To nourish the vascular system, benefit cholesterol ratios and triglyceride levels, control blood clotting. Studies show significant reduction in cardiovascular disease with ALA from flax and/or EPA from fish oils.
✔ To benefit joints by reducing inflammation, and for all those wanting to reduce their inflammation levels. (Flax oil and pure quality fish oils both reduce PGE2)
✔ Clients with dry or itching skin problems, this is a common sign of omega 3 oils deficiency. (Flax oil is the recommended food)
Flax seed oil is recommended for everyone, while fish oils may be added for extra benefit or to aid certain functions as above. One tablespoon of flax seed oil is commonly recommended daily for adults. If flax seed oil is taken, just two Vital Nutrients pharmaceutical grade concentrated fish oil capsules will be adequate.
✔ Pregnant women, as the foetus and infants need it for brain, and eye development (this is usually taken as pure quality fish oils given to the mother to ensure DHA)
✔ As a preventive measure during breastfeeding and the first two years of life to reduce atopic (allergy) conditions in childhood (flax and fish oil)
✔ For normal healthy brain function, especially important for people with attention and/or learning disability (pure, quality fish oils are recommended for this due to the DHA content, not found in flax)
✔ Clients seeking better skin and complexion and relief from dry skin (one tablespoon or more of Omega 3 flax oil, or capsules of flax and high GLA Borage oils do this best)
✔ Those people who would like to improve their mood and emotional well-being. Note both depression and aggressiveness decline particularly when taking EPA
✔ To nourish the vascular system, benefit cholesterol ratios and triglyceride levels, control blood clotting. Studies show significant reduction in cardiovascular disease with ALA from flax and/or EPA from fish oils.
✔ To benefit joints by reducing inflammation, and for all those wanting to reduce their inflammation levels. (Flax oil and pure quality fish oils both reduce PGE2)
✔ Clients with dry or itching skin problems, this is a common sign of omega 3 oils deficiency. (Flax oil is the recommended food)
Flax seed oil is recommended for everyone, while fish oils may be added for extra benefit or to aid certain functions as above. One tablespoon of flax seed oil is commonly recommended daily for adults. If flax seed oil is taken, just two Vital Nutrients pharmaceutical grade concentrated fish oil capsules will be adequate.
Why Are The Omega 3 Oils Essential?
The omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA’s) have been a major focus of scientific research for over 30 years. The EFA’s are made from just two poly-unsaturated fats - linoleic acid (LA, used to make all the omega 6 series) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA, makes all the omega 3 series). Our bodies cannot make either one of these building blocks, and for this reason, both LA and ALA are considered to be essential fats that must be obtained from our diet. Collectively, they contribute to balancing a vastly complex area of human nutrition, especially in relation to inflammation. From the moment of conception, throughout pregnancy and over the entire lifespan, the EFA’s play major regulatory roles for thousands of cellular functions and are vital to life. This is especially true for omega-3 because of its critical role for human growth and development, normal brain function, healthy vision, and balance of the immune system. It is also equally important for the prevention of inflammatory-linked disorders such as coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, irritable bowel disorder, colitis, allergy and auto-immune disorders.
Studies have concluded it is the balance between the EFA’s, which is genetically imprinted in every cell of humans. During the last century there has been a dramatic increase in availability of refined omega-6 vegetable oils and in last 40 years also partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) as well. Most scientists are now in agreement that our early ancestors prior to 10,000 years ago consumed a diet that supplied an EFA ratio of near 1:1 between omega-6 and omega-3. In other words, the diet was evenly balanced between the two EFA’s. With the beginning of the agricultural era about 10,000 years ago, this ratio began to rise slowly to near 3 - 4:1. This is in stark contrast to the average modern diet, which has a genetically omega-6 / 3 ratio often in excess of 20:1! This is highly pro-inflammatory ratio, especially in those also consuming saturated animal fats from dairy, pork and beef as well. There is a critical deficiency of the essential omega-3 fatty acid in the modern diet, which has been linked to chronic inflammation related diseases.
Studies have concluded it is the balance between the EFA’s, which is genetically imprinted in every cell of humans. During the last century there has been a dramatic increase in availability of refined omega-6 vegetable oils and in last 40 years also partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) as well. Most scientists are now in agreement that our early ancestors prior to 10,000 years ago consumed a diet that supplied an EFA ratio of near 1:1 between omega-6 and omega-3. In other words, the diet was evenly balanced between the two EFA’s. With the beginning of the agricultural era about 10,000 years ago, this ratio began to rise slowly to near 3 - 4:1. This is in stark contrast to the average modern diet, which has a genetically omega-6 / 3 ratio often in excess of 20:1! This is highly pro-inflammatory ratio, especially in those also consuming saturated animal fats from dairy, pork and beef as well. There is a critical deficiency of the essential omega-3 fatty acid in the modern diet, which has been linked to chronic inflammation related diseases.
What Do They Do?
Omega-3 is the most fluid-like in cell membranes and is a potent an anti-inflammatory EFA, whereas omega-6 is generally pro-inflammatory, especially the form called arachidonic acid. Linoleic acid [LA, omega-6] is a precursor of arachidonic acid, which, in turn, is a precursor of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PGE2 tends to polarize the immune Th1/Th2 cytokine balance toward Th2 dominance, which increases risks of auto-immune illnesses and increases IgE and in turn histamine, for example the development of allergy is associated with excess omega 6 and/or too low Omega 3 series (which compete with omega-6 fatty acids regarding pro inflammatory PGE2 formation). By reducing inflammation Omega 3 have been shown recently in an Australian study to reduce oxidative stress (up to 20%).
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is a member of the Omega-3 EFA family, easily made from the ALA found in flax seed oil. EPA is pre-formed in fish oil. EPA is required for the production of the prostaglandins, which control blood clotting and other arterial functions. DHA, concentrated in the eyes and brain are found only in fish oil and come from marine algae. Some claim that as fish oil, by providing pre-formed EPA and DHA lowers disease risks more favorably than flax oil. This is misleading. The fact is that historically plant derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) has been the most abundant source of omega-3 in the human diet for the last 40,000 years – it is what we are genetically most adapted to. The healthy body converts this to vegetable source ALA into EPA and DHA in most cases, but not all owing to genetics.
That’s not to say oily fish or fish oil capsules are not beneficial – they are, and they bypass the need for conversion form ALA. There have been recent studies of Alzheimers sufferers showing they have an inability to convert omega 3 ALA and EPA into DHA. One study had shown breastfeeding mothers do not significantly raise their DHA levels from flax seed oil alone. Low DHA is associated with neuroblastoma, one of the most common cancers in children, and DHA is also proven in studies to enhance the attention and concentration in children. Therefore Flax seed oil and Fish oil are recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Liquid fish oil is most recommended for children.
Therefore we often recommend both fish and flax seed oils – so long as they are pure products. Unfortunately many fish oils in the marketplace are rancid and are also contaminated with PCBs and Dioxins, so care is needed to supply a pure source. This is why we have taken such care to provide you with Vital Nutrients Ultra Pure Fish Oil, and Omega Nutrition’s certified organic Flax Oil, as safe and reliable sources. We recommend you smell and taste all omega oils before use – if it smells like oil paint or leaves a scratchy sensation in the back of your throat, it has already become rancid and should be discarded. Rancid fish oils tend to repeat a fishy smell.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is a member of the Omega-3 EFA family, easily made from the ALA found in flax seed oil. EPA is pre-formed in fish oil. EPA is required for the production of the prostaglandins, which control blood clotting and other arterial functions. DHA, concentrated in the eyes and brain are found only in fish oil and come from marine algae. Some claim that as fish oil, by providing pre-formed EPA and DHA lowers disease risks more favorably than flax oil. This is misleading. The fact is that historically plant derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) has been the most abundant source of omega-3 in the human diet for the last 40,000 years – it is what we are genetically most adapted to. The healthy body converts this to vegetable source ALA into EPA and DHA in most cases, but not all owing to genetics.
That’s not to say oily fish or fish oil capsules are not beneficial – they are, and they bypass the need for conversion form ALA. There have been recent studies of Alzheimers sufferers showing they have an inability to convert omega 3 ALA and EPA into DHA. One study had shown breastfeeding mothers do not significantly raise their DHA levels from flax seed oil alone. Low DHA is associated with neuroblastoma, one of the most common cancers in children, and DHA is also proven in studies to enhance the attention and concentration in children. Therefore Flax seed oil and Fish oil are recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Liquid fish oil is most recommended for children.
Therefore we often recommend both fish and flax seed oils – so long as they are pure products. Unfortunately many fish oils in the marketplace are rancid and are also contaminated with PCBs and Dioxins, so care is needed to supply a pure source. This is why we have taken such care to provide you with Vital Nutrients Ultra Pure Fish Oil, and Omega Nutrition’s certified organic Flax Oil, as safe and reliable sources. We recommend you smell and taste all omega oils before use – if it smells like oil paint or leaves a scratchy sensation in the back of your throat, it has already become rancid and should be discarded. Rancid fish oils tend to repeat a fishy smell.
References:
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Parris M. Kidd, PhD. Omega-3 DHA and EPA for Cognition, Behavior, and Mood: Clinical Findings and Structural- Functional Synergies with Cell Membrane Phospholipids. Alternative Medicine Review Volume 12, Number 3 2007.
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Kris-Etherton PM, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: new recommendations from the American Heart Association. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003;23(2):151-152.
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Marchioli R, Barzi F, Bomba E, et al. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: time-course analysis of the results of the Gruppo Italiano GISSI Prevenzione. Circulation. 2002;105(16):1897-1903.
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Goldberg RJ, Katz J. A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain. 2007;129(1-2):210-223.
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Kim J, et al. Fatty fish and fish omega-3 fatty acid intakes decrease the breast cancer risk: a case-control study. BMC Cancer 2009;9:216.
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Toriyama-Baba H, Iigo M, et al. Organotropic chemopreventive effects of n-3 unsaturated fatty acids in a rat multi-organ carcinogenesis model. Jpn J Cancer Res 2001;92:1175-83.
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Iigo M, et al. Inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid on colon carcinoma 26 metastasis to the lung. Br J Cancer 1997;75:650-5.
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Ramos EJ, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on tumor-bearing rats. J Am Coll Surg 2004;199:716-23.
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Kelavkar UP, et al. Prostate tumor growth and recurrence can be modulated by the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in diet: athymic mouse xenograft model simulating radical prostatectomy. Neoplasia 2006; 8:112-24.
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Gleissman H, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation delays the progression of neuroblastoma in vivo. Int J Cancer. 2010 May 24.
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Uauy R, et al. Essential fatty acids in visual and brain development. Lipids. 2001;36(9):885-895..
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Helland IB, et al. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003;111(1):e39-44.
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Richardson AJ, Montgomery P. The Oxford-Durham Study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder. Pediatrics 2005;115:1360-1366.
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Richardson AJ. Omega-3 fatty acids in ADHD and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Int Rev Psychiatry 2006;18:155-172.
